St. John's Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish 

Building Community at the Crossroads of Faith and Life 

Lay Eucharistic Ministers

View ROTA November 2 through December 28, 2008

Attention LEMs: ROTAs for Christmas Holidays and January February 2009 are under construction. Look for an email with subject line STNJ LEM Schedule Information.

Serving as lay assistants to the ordained clergy at all Eucharistic services, Liturgical Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs) have various duties. However, the basic function of a LEM is to administer the chalice and intinction cup to bring people the "Blood of Christ." Of course, not everyone will feel called to this ministry, but those who commit themselves to being a LEM find it to be a deeply satisfying service to their fellow parishioners and clergy.

Besides commitment, the requirements are that the LEM be:

• at least 16 years old
• a baptized and confirmed communicant
• recommended by our Rector for licensing in the Diocese of Washington
• trained by our LEM leaders

All LEMs receive a detailed manual at the beginning of their training. They also receive hands-on training from our leaders, who later can serve with them at their first services to give support.

There are two types of LEMs that participate in the service: the vested and non-vested LEMs.

Vested LEMs

A LEM who has been trained to perform all our possible duties wears a white vestment (alb) and may perform some of these duties during a service, (but never all at one service):

• be a lector (lesson reader)
• lead prayers and Psalms
• administer either a chalice or intinction cup
• occasionally give the bread (the "Body of Christ")
• serve as a greeter after the service
• serve as an acolyte for the Deacon of the Mass
• be a crucifer (carry the cross)

Non-vested LEMs

If one does not feel comfortable reading aloud during the service, one may also choose to be a LEM by only administering the wine. Non-vested LEMs:

• do not wear the white albs
• remain seated in the congregation pews during most of the service and come forward during the offering
• administer the intinction cup during communion
• return to their seats during the blessing and recessional hymn>

Special LEMs

Some vested LEMs who receive special training take the sacramental bread and wine to shut-in parishioners as pastoral visiting LEMs.

Most LEMs prefer to serve at a certain service. Our scheduler tries to respect these preferences as well as preferences for service at festivals such as Christmas Day and Easter Day. There is a sign-up sheet so that when a LEM takes a vacation or is unable to serve, they will not be scheduled for that Sunday. Frequency of service is usually every other or every third Sunday. All three services are shown on a schedule (Rota) covering a three month period that is printed and distributed to all LEMs.

Any LEM will happily answer whatever questions you may have about this ministry. However, you must have an interview with our Rector, whose recommendation is a requirement to serve.

Join us and enrich your faith by performing this needed and important service to the St. John's Norwood Parish community.

Acrobat Reader is required to read LEM Rota. You may download a FREE copy of this software from Adobe Systems.